Worth The Wait (Small-Town Secrets-Fairview Series Book 1)

by Sophia Sinclair

  He rolled away from her; she knew he had to take care of the condom and glanced away as he used a tissue and whisked it out of sight. Then he hugged her so hard it almost hurt, and she hugged him just as hard. Then they both relaxed and she laid her head on his chest, his arms loosely holding her.

  “I don’t even know what to say,” he finally said.

  “What are you thinking?”

  “I’m thinking that wasn’t what I would have expected from my shy little librarian.”

  “What are shy little librarians supposed to be like in bed?” she lightly asked.

  “Well, I was judging you by your reputation around town as a woman who doesn’t much care to date. Maybe judging you a bit for your very demure style of dress. Maybe I should have gotten a clue from your secret little sexy underthings, but I was afraid I might overwhelm you. But if anything, you overwhelmed me. Gracious, Miss Molly, you just about did in this poor pirate.”

  “Well, if I’m too much for you, I can refrain in the future,” she teased.

  “Oh, there will be no refraining,” he teased back. “But I do need to know — how does this work? Am I allowed to spend the night at your house, are you allowed to come here? Or only when your kids are out of the house? What are the ground rules?”

  “Ugh,” Molly said. “Don’t put it like that, please. But no, I really do not feel comfortable having you spend the night under the same roof as my teenagers, and no, I can’t leave them alone all night. Tommy has proven to me that he needs a bit more oversight. I understand if the reality of teenagers makes me a less than appealing date.”

  “They spend every other weekend with their dad?”

  “Generally, yes. And I mean, they aren’t toddlers — I can see you. I just don’t feel like we’ll have a lot of overnights. I hope you can live with that.”

  “I can live with that,” he said, and began kissing her again.

  “Maybe we better make the most of this opportunity,” Molly said, and reached her hand down to find out if he was ready to do so.

  “Miss Molly, I do believe you’re a wild little wench,” he said. He kissed her, harder than before. “I like that in a woman.”

  Chapter 13

  The next few weeks were some of the happiest Molly could remember. David had begun showing up for dinner just about every night; he also accompanied Molly to see Beth’s games and watched sports on the TV with Tommy. Whenever they thought they could find an excuse, they stole a few hours in his bed, but she stuck to her guns — no sex under her roof when her kids were home, and no overnights at his house except when the kids were at Hank’s. She liked spending the weekend with David, even though it meant hauling Clarence with her. Clarence wasn’t grossly obese anymore and could get around as well as any slightly chubby little dog. He had his own little dog bed and bowls in David’s kitchen, and he seemed to accept that he was now a two-house dog.

  Lori seemed surprised. “I’ve never known you to keep a boyfriend this long,” she said. “You really like this guy, don’t you?”

  “I really do.”

  “Do you love him?”

  “That’s a difficult question.” Molly kept her face down, pretending to become very interested in the glass of red wine she was working on. They were sitting in Molly’s living room, both kids upstairs doing homework.

  “No, it’s not. That’s the easiest question in the world.”

  “I thought I was in love with Hank,” Molly said.

  “Well, who says you weren’t?”

  “Hello, do you remember how awful things were in my marriage?”

  “Oh, so you think that if people love each other, every little thing will stay perfect forever. That is not how it works. It’s not hard to fall in love. I do it about once a year. Get my heart broken about once a year, too. Falling in love is easy! Making relationships work is hard.”

  “Well, he hasn’t said he loves me. I’m not about to say anything if he doesn’t. Besides, I’ve got kids.”

  “God forbid your kids should see you happy, right?”

  “I’m not in love with him, anyway.”

  “Riiiight. And he’s not totally in love with you, either. Got it.”

  “What makes you think he’s in love with me?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe the way he looks at you? Maybe the way he puts up with your rules of only spending the night with him every other weekend? By the way, your kids aren’t stupid, you know. Hank is right across town. Absolutely nobody is fooled.”

  “I’m just trying to do the right thing here. I’m trying to set a decent example for the kids. You’ll understand someday when you have kids.”

  “I don’t think that’s looking too likely. None of my relationships seem to pan out all that well, in case you haven’t noticed. This thing with you and David looks different. I think the man is scared to take it to the next level with you, scared you’ll run off. Are you going to make him marry you before you let him ever enter your bedroom, or what?”

  “He’s been in my bedroom, for your information. Once, two weeks ago, when the kids were with Hank.”

  “Oh, and here I thought you were Miss Innocent! He’s been in your bedroom! I wonder, did you let him touch your booby, or does that have to wait until he gives you his class ring?”

  “You’re impossible!” Molly said.

  “So are you.”

  The fact was, Molly knew the answer to Lori’s question. She’d known it since the night in his motel room, on some level. Each time David made love to her, she fought against yelling the words. She also longed to hear him say them, but if he was fighting against the urge to say them, he gave no sign. Could Lori be right? Could he be afraid of scaring her off? Or was he simply content to keep their relationship casual? It didn’t feel casual to her, but then, she hadn’t had a really serious relationship other than her marriage.

  They had told each other all their secrets. He opened up to her about his feelings about his mother, who he hadn’t seen since he was a little boy.

  “She had a drinking problem,” he said, holding Molly lightly in the dark. “And then I guess alcohol wasn’t enough for her anymore, and she moved on to drugs. Not just a little pot, either. The hard stuff. Heroin. I don’t remember this, but my dad said one day he came home to find me playing with her needle and spoon. She was so zonked out she had no idea. That was the day he told her to get clean or get out. She got out, and I’ve not seen her since. I don’t even know if she’s alive or dead.”

  “I don’t know what to say. Just saying I’m sorry doesn’t seem enough.” She hugged him.

  “I barely remember her, to tell the truth. But according to my dad, she was one of those unhappy women who just can’t cope with life. The light bill was high? She’d take a drink. Flat tire? Big drink. Hole in her favorite jeans? That called for a drink. She just couldn’t deal with ordinary life. He knew she was a party girl when they got married, but he didn’t realize how bad it was until it was too late. Dad always felt guilty that I grew up without a mother, but he did his best to be both mom and dad to me. Anyway, I suppose it’s kept me a little afraid to settle down and have kids.”

  Molly just stroked his hair and silently wondered if that meant he wasn’t ever planning to get serious with a woman. If he would never want to get serious with her.

  She told him more about her marriage with Hank, and how she’d never again been able to trust a man enough to get serious. She just didn’t want to be hurt like that again. David was very silent after that. She wondered what thoughts might be going through his head.

  Chapter 14

  Her days at the library dragged far more these days. She became a clock-watcher, living for the moment when she could close the library and see David. Especially tonight, because the kids would be with Hank. She and David would have the entire weekend together. She couldn’t wait. And then she looked up from the book she was quietly reading and there was Matt Green, looking peeved. But then, that was how he always looked.
/>   “Hello,” she said. “I didn’t see you there.”

  “No, and I have been standing here for a while. Is this how you spend all your time on the clock? Ignoring the patrons?”

  “There aren’t any at the moment, as you can see. It’s just about closing time.”

  “And there’s nothing else to be done, I take it. No books to shelve, no dusting to be done, no sweeping or mopping.”

  “What can I do for you, Matt? It’s closing time, as I said.”

  “And you just can’t wait to clear out and go shack up with your boyfriend, I bet.”

  Molly stood up. “I don’t know that what I do on my own time is any of your business,” she said.

  “How do you think it looks when the town librarian, the person mothers trust to read to their children, is running around like a teenage whore? Oh, I’ve seen your car at his house all night. You like to pretend to be Miss Innocent, but nobody is fooled. You were a little whore in high school and you’re a little whore now.”

  Molly was so shocked she just stood there, frozen. She wanted to slap his face but the thought of losing her job stopped her.

  “I’ll be leaving now.”

  “Go ahead, Molly. I know why you’re leaving.” But he was blocking her way, standing in the space between the edge of the desk and a bookcase.

  “I’m leaving because it’s closing time.” She stood up, picked up her purse and looked at him expectantly, waiting for him to move out of the way.

  “You think people don’t know what you are. But they do. There are no secrets in this town.”

  “Oh, but there are,” Molly said, shaking with anger.

  “I think you’d be surprised what people know about you. What they think about you.” He made no move to get out of her way, even when she stepped forward. She was surprised to detect the smell of alcohol on his breath. Then she noticed Matt was swaying a little bit. He clutched the edge of the bookcase for support.

  “I think you might be surprised about what I know about you.”

  “Oh, let’s hear it. I can’t wait to find out what you think you know about me.” Did he look worried, or was that her imagination?

  “I know you’ve been drinking.”

  “That’s your big secret?”

  “No, that’s just a surprise; that you came by the library at closing time drunk. Never mind what I know. I don’t want trouble. I just want to leave, if you don’t mind.” She took another step toward him but he didn’t move away. He leaned toward her, in fact.

  “I can smell your perfume when you come this close to me.” Molly took a step backward then.

  “I like it. Nice. You smell like a whore in heat.”

  “Please let me pass,” Molly said, trying to keep her fear out of her voice.

  “Oh, I don’t think so. I think I want to hear your secret thoughts about me. Are they sexy thoughts, Molly?”

  “Move aside,” she said. “If I told people what I know, you wouldn’t be able to hold your head up in this town ever again. Your big reputation would be gone.”

  “Likely story,” Matt said. “You jealous little bitch. Your family was trash. You’re trash. Your kids are trash. You think people don’t know your son is a little troublemaker who would be in juvie right now if you weren’t fucking David?”

  Molly felt an anger beyond any she had ever known. Her whole body shook with the power of it. Before she knew it, she was spitting out words she’d meant to keep to herself.

  “Your grandfather was a murderer! He’s the one who killed the Conrad family!”

  “You lying little bitch! How dare you! This damned library wouldn’t even be here if not for my grandfather! Neither would the hospital! My grandfather made this town!”

  “This library is here because of Carnegie. That’s why it’s called a Carnegie library. But that’s not the point. David checked out a lot of old records and what I’m telling you is true: Your grandfather wanted the Conrad land so he could make a killing when the state built the highway. It’s why he quietly bought up so much land in the years right before that. There’s a pattern. But the Conrads wouldn’t sell. So your grandfather got them out of the way, and then he bought up the land he wanted afterward. Say what you want about me and my family, but none of us ever stabbed anyone to death.”

  “You are fired! You little bitch! Do you hear me? Fired! Get out of this library and never come back! You lying little bitch whore!” But he still did not move out of her way. She felt afraid, but she also felt mad.

  “You fire me, and I will go public with everything I know. About how your grandfather stabbed the Conrads, and the only reason he didn’t stab Desiree was because she was out of the house waiting for the Conrad son to come out and meet her. Otherwise, your grandfather would have stabbed her, too.”

  “Nobody is going to believe a damned word from a little bitch whore like you. But I’ve got a secret for you! Your boyfriend thinks he’s descended from the Conrads, but he’s not. That little bitch Dessie was my grandfather’s whore.” Matt laughed at the look of shock on Molly’s face. “That’s right! She was knocked up! She left town because my grandfather gave her some money and sent her packing! Your boyfriend isn’t a Conrad! He’s a Green! How do you like them apples, bitch? And if you like fucking that Green so much, you’re going to like this one even more!” Matt’s hands shot out and he grabbed Molly’s upper arms so tightly she couldn’t move. She dropped her purse and it fell to the floor. His mouth turned toward hers. She screamed and turned her head, avoiding his lips. He tightened his grip on one arm, and used his other hand to roughly grope her breasts.

  “Get your hands off me!” Molly struggled against Matt, using her one free hand to strike out at him, but he seemed not to feel her blows. He let go of her breast and began fumbling with his pants. Molly suddenly remembered what her dad had told her to do if she were ever in this situation. She used all her strength to drive her right knee as hard as she could into Matt’s bulging crotch. He screamed and let go of her as he fell to the ground. Molly ran, leaving behind her purse. “You fucking bitch! Get back here! Don’t you dare tell anyone or you’ll be sorry!” He was still yelling filthy insults and threats when she reached the parking lot. Without her purse she didn’t have her keys or her phone. She ran down the street, terrified. There was nobody around. Her best bet was the gas station. She had an empty lot to get past. She kicked off her high heels and ran on the frozen ground in her stocking feet, not feeling a thing, until she got to the gas station and burst in, sobbing and shaking.

  “Call the police! Call the police!” she screamed.

  “Molly, my word! Where’s your coat? Your shoes? What’s the matter?” asked the gas station attendant, an older woman named Marsha.

  “Please! Call the police!” she said.

  “What’s happened?” Marsha asked her.

  “It was Matt Green. He … threatened me,” Molly said. She looked out the window, afraid Matt may have followed her, but he was nowhere to be seen. That didn’t stop her from shaking and crying.

  “Matt Green threatens everybody,” Marsha said. “An asshole, that one. Still, I wouldn’t want to cross him.”

  “Are you going to call them or do I have to?” Molly asked.

  Marsha finally called the police as Molly listened.

  “This is Marsha at the gas station. I need the police out here.” She paused. “It’s Molly Miller. Seems real upset. Came running in here without her shoes or coat. Said … somebody … threatened her. You better come,” she said.

  Molly noted that Marsha had refrained from naming Matt. And she began to worry suddenly about what it would mean to name names with the police. Would anybody even believe her? She walked over to the hot chocolate dispenser and helped herself to a foam cup of the stuff. Her teeth were chattering and her hands were shaking. She took a sip, careful not to spill any on herself. She was freezing cold. Marsha tactfully suggested she wait in the back office to avoid curious customers. Molly helped herself to Ma
rsha’s coat and shook quietly as she waited.

  It seemed to take forever. Fairview had only a few police officers and depended on the county for most law enforcement. Finally, a deputy showed up, one Molly didn’t know well. He introduced himself as Deputy Nichols. Molly explained that she had been working at the library when Matt had showed up, began insulting her, and had attacked her.

  “Attacked you, you say?” the deputy said.

  “Yes. I’m sure there are bruises on my arms,” she said.

  “Pretty serious accusation. He’s the library board president, isn’t he? Your boss?”

  “Yes.”

  “And you’re saying he came in and attacked you?” Deputy Nichols looked skeptical, standing there acting as if she were reporting a jaywalker.

  “That’s right.”

  “You say something to set him off?”

  “It doesn’t matter what I said. It matters that he attacked me.”

  “Well, if that’s your story, let’s see those arms.”

  Molly slipped off Marsha’s coat and slid up the left sleeve of her dress. Sure enough, it was bruised, the marks of fingers clear to be seen. She slid up the right sleeve. Same pattern, but not as severe. Probably because Matt had used his left hand to tightly squeeze her right arm so he could have his dominant right hand free to … she didn’t want to finish the sentence even in her mind.